The Association between Left Ventricular Diastolic Function and a Mild-to-Moderate Decrease in Glomerular Filtration Rate in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

This prospective study evaluated the relationship between echocardiography parameters of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and mild-to-moderate renal function impairment in 82 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The mean age of the patients was 61.1 years. A significant correlation was found between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the ratio of peak velocity of early transmitral flow (E) to peak velocity of early diastolic mitral annular motion (E'). Cluster analysis revealed two subgroups of patients with different E' values but comparable eGFRs. The correlation between eGFR and E/E' was significant in 38 patients with E' ≤ 7.1 cm/s, but not significant in 44 patients with E' > 7.1 cm/s. The results suggest that the deterioration of LV relaxation (E') represents the underlying condition for the association between mild-to-moderate renal function impairment and the non-invasive parameter of LV end-diastolic pressure (E/E'), in patients with type 2 diabetes without any previous cardiovascular event and with well-controlled blood pressure.